By Chloe Hannan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Guysborough Journal
GUYSBOROUGH: Held on April 29 at the Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex, the session invited community members to learn more about the services Pictou-based HCRS offers, how they support individuals across northeastern Nova Scotia and why Guysborough is next in line for expansion.
“We’re a service provider for people who receive disability support, helping with day-to-day tasks at home,” said Riley Bennett, residential counsellor for the HCRS. “That can mean groceries, medications, transportation … whatever it takes to live independently.”
Founded in 1977, HCRS supports 122 individuals through a range of residential services, including independent living services (ILS), small-option group homes and single-participant homes for those with complex care needs. The organization employs nearly 300 staff across 20 sites in Nova Scotia, offering personalized support.
“In ILS, people might have staff with them for three hours a day and live independently the other 21 [hours],” Bennett said. “Others may need full support with meals, personal care, finances and transportation.”
HCRS is now expanding its reach into Guysborough, where options are few, Bennett said.
“There are currently zero supportive housing beds in Guysborough County. Right now, someone needing services might have to stay with family or move to another region.”
To begin addressing this, HCRS has partnered with the Community First Guysborough County Housing Association, which recently purchased a six-unit apartment building in Boylston. One unit is being designated for a resident supported by HCRS.
“We’re working with Community First to provide care and support in that apartment,” Bennett said.
All HCRS services are funded by Nova Scotia’s Department of Opportunities and Social Development. Individuals are first assessed by the department and then referred to the organization for residential support.
Demand continues to grow as the province begins to close large institutions like the Riverview Home Corporation and The Sunset Community, requiring residents to transition into smaller, community-based settings.
“Many of these folks have lived in institutions for years,” Bennett said. “And now they’re expected to find supported housing, but there just aren’t enough spaces available.”
The April 29 event included a testimony from an individual supported by HCRS, offering insight into what inclusive housing looks like, and what it means to someone who has lived it.
“In places like Halifax, you’ve got multiple organizations providing these services,” said Bennett. “In smaller communities like Guysborough, there’s just [fewer] organizations like this.”
HCRS hopes to grow its presence in the region by working directly in the community, meeting residents and families, and making its services more visible.
“People are starting to realize what’s available, and that’s what we hope to get out of these sessions,” he added.
For Warden Paul Long of the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG), inclusive housing is a matter of dignity and belonging.
“You certainly want to see your own residents’ needs taken care of in their own community,” he said. “Not all people can relocate to larger areas away from family and friends.”
Long acknowledged that housing demand has risen in recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the shortage is part of a broader, national issue.
“There is a housing crisis nationwide, and we know there’s a need for more affordable housing and more options for older adults. Guysborough is no exception.”
He also noted that the efforts of groups like Community First is part of a wider response to the local housing gap. When asked if more service providers like HCRS are needed, Long agreed that there is still a gap to be filled.
Added Bennett: “We do have some people we support in Guysborough County right now. We’re trying to expand throughout the region to offer these services to more people.”